The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.

The second ingredient includes pork meal, another protein-rich meat concentrate.

The third ingredient is ground brown rice, another name for rice flour. Ground rice is made from either white or brown rice and is considered a gluten-free substitute for wheat flour.

The fourth ingredient is oatmeal, a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally rich in B-vitamins, dietary fiber and can be (depending upon its level of purity) gluten-free.

The fifth ingredient is rice. Is this whole grain rice, brown rice or white rice? Since the word “rice” doesn’t tell us much, it’s impossible to judge the quality of this item.

The sixth ingredient is barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. However, aside from its energy content, this cereal grain is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The seventh ingredient is chicken fat. Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.

Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.

The eighth ingredient is tomato pomace. Tomato pomace is a controversial ingredient, a by-product remaining after processing tomatoes into juice, soup and ketchup.

Many praise tomato pomace for its high fiber and nutrient content, while others scorn it as an inexpensive pet food filler.

Just the same, there’s probably not enough tomato pomace here to make much of a difference.

The ninth ingredient is flaxseed, one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided they’ve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.

However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.

But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this product.

With three notable exceptions…

First, brewers yeast can be a controversial item. Although it’s a by-product of the beer making process, this ingredient is rich in minerals and other healthy nutrients.

Fans believe yeast repels fleas and supports the immune system.

Critics argue yeast ingredients can be linked to allergies. This may be true, but (like all allergies) only if your particular dog is allergic to the yeast itself.

In addition, a vocal minority insists yeast can increase the risk of developing the life-threatening condition known as bloat. However, this is a claim we’ve not been able to scientifically verify.

In any case, unless your dog is specifically allergic to it, yeast can still be considered a nutritious additive.

What’s more noteworthy here is that brewers yeast contains about 48% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

Next, we note the inclusion of inulin, a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and typically sourced from chicory root.

Not only is inulin a natural source of soluble dietary fiber, it’s also a prebiotic used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dog’s digestive tract.

And lastly, this food contains chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.

A Final Word

The descriptions and analyses expressed in this and every article on this website represent the views and opinions of the author.

The Dog Food Advisor does not test dog food products.

We rely entirely on the integrity of the information provided by each company. As such, the accuracy of every review is directly dependent upon the specific data a company chooses to share.

Although it's our goal to ensure all the information on this website is correct, we cannot guarantee its completeness or its accuracy; nor can we commit to ensuring all the material is kept up-to-date on a daily basis.

Each review is offered in good faith and has been designed to help you make a more informed decision when buying dog food.

However, due to the biological uniqueness of every animal, none of our ratings are intended to suggest feeding a particular product will result in a specific dietary response or health benefit for your pet.

Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt, consult a qualified veterinary professional for help.

In closing, we do not accept money, gifts or samples from pet food companies in exchange for special consideration in the preparation of our reviews or ratings.

However, we do receive a fee from Chewy.com for each purchase made as a direct result of a referral from our website. This fee is a fixed dollar amount and has nothing to do with the size of an order or the brand selected for purchase.

Have an opinion about this dog food? Or maybe the review itself? Please know we welcome your comments.

Hi Mindy, thank-you for adopting these dogs so many dogs & cats are dumped at pounds & people don’t desex their dogs & cats & breed them…. Yes you can feed just 1 kibble for all 3 dogs, have a look at kibbles that say “All Life Stages” or email the kibble company & ask is what ever kibble your interested in an “All Life Stages” Kibble??..
When you buy a small breed kibble the fat & protein is a bit higher then an Adult kibble cause small dogs burn more energy then bigger dogs do…. Canidae has their “Life Stages” All Life Stages formula, it has 4 high quality meat meals Chicken, Turkey, Lamb & Fish & they are all meals & a pretty good price, when you buy the 44lb bag & the kibble size is nice & small, also find another brand of kibble & rotate their kibbles, so they’re not just eating the same brand day in & day out, dogs get bored eating the same kibble…. I was feeding 1 brand for breakfast & then another brand for dinner but now I feed 1 meal a cooked meal & “Taste Of The Wild” it’s grain free kibble & a pretty good for the price & is a 4-5star kibble, my rescue has IBD & skin allergies & he does really well on Taste Of The Wild & Canidae kibbles….Taste Of The Wild (TOTW) has their Appalachian Valley Small Breed formula or look at Sierra Mountain Roasted Lamb, Pine Forest, Southwest Canyon are all Life Stages formula’s.. https://www.chewy.com/canidae-life-stages-all-life-stages/dp/28895

Mindy Clark

I have a question! I have 3 dogs all various sizes from 8lbs, 28lbs and 90lbs (which she needs to lose weight)…I have recently adpoted these girls and want a affordable quality food and I am disgusted to learn what lots of dog foods are made of. Can I buy one kind of food for all 3 girls? Or do I have to buy a small breed food for my smallest one and a regular size food for the other two? Could I buy the small food for all 3 dogs or buy regular food for all 3 girls? They are various ages too. 1yr, 4yr and 6yr.

Susan

Depends, I cant feed Patch 7yrs old a real high protein cause they normally are higher in fat & Patch gets acid Reflux & gets his pain when the protein is over 28% so I stick around 25% protein & fat is around 10% -13% depends on the kibble… Higher protein is better your getting less carbs…

Pitlove

Higher for a senior dog.

Samantha

Ok so I have a question and it may be a dumb one but I have been given two different contradicting answers, anyway I have a large breed dog he is a bit older but I was wondering do I want a dog food with a higher protein or a lower protein?

thanks, have looked into them – none are 30/20 – caged a half dozen bags of Pro Pac Performance Puppy – essentially the same as HIgh Performance, but with DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) a natural omega-3 fatty acid essential in the development of the brain and nervous system in young mammals., not harmful to adult dogs)

When you go pet shop get a small bag & feel the kibble while in the bag, I push a kibble up to the top & feel, I felt the Lamb & Rice kibble the other day & the kibble felt real small, which is good easier to digest if they don’t chew & gulp food..

Susan

I would be finding another kibble, its not agreeing with your dog like I posted above my boy has problems when he eats a kibble with Probiotics in it…so maybe look for a kibble with limited ingredients without probiotics & Brewers yeast, I’ve read Brewers Yeast may not agree with some dogs… look at California Natural range they have their Lamb & Rice with just 4 ingredients or their Chicken & Rice with just 5 ingredients…http://www.californianaturalpet.com/products

Susan

I’m looking too try Eagle Pack Lamb & Rice but what I don’t like is the Probiotics, Eagle Pack is made by Well Pet…. Wellpet also make Holistic Select & Wellness when Patch was eating the Wellness Whitefish & Sweet Potato, he was fine for about 4 weeks then he started doing sloppy yellow poos & losing weight, so I emailed Wellness & they said he must have a food intolerances to an ingredient, so I returned the bag & got a refund…. Holistic Select is really good the Anchovy, Sardine & Salmon Adult Recipe…try & look for a kibble with limited ingredients & no probiotics they are normally all down the bottom of the ingredients, Patch is doing really well eating Nutro Sensitive skin Fish & Rice has no other ingredient, the Australian Nutro is different to the American Nutro adds more ingredients to their limited ingredient Nutro…..

Jonathan Andersen

I had a similar issue with one of my great danes. We stuck with eagle pack and switched to the lamb formula. Problem solved.

Penny

I have been having problems with the Eagle Pack Chicken and Pork Meal for Small dogs. I started with it in the summer. All my dogs did well until the middle of September. Then they started having diarrhea and some of them started losing weight with the second shipment. All through the fall it seemed like every new bag would cause an issue then by the end they were okay again. I’ve written to Eagle Pack, citing the issue and merely asking for the way to find the batch #, with no response. I heard they had changed the formula, so I hoped it was just getting food from both formulas in the same shipment. Right now I am trying to figure out what to do next. So many people love this food, and the price per pound is great, I wonder if I should go to another protein source. Then what I noticed is that all their foods mix the proteins. The lamb, for example has lamb meal, chicken meal(if i remember correctly) and anchovie and sardine meal. I’m thinking of going to another brand, but I have bostons terriers, and changing food is usually difficult for them at any time. I have to do something, since they are probably wasting any benefit they get with the better food with the diarrhea. I would love to hear the actual type food everyone is using and the breed, if any they are using it for. Both me and my dogs were really happy with this food the first month, so I’m really confused.

Kayla

I will have to check it out, thanks!

Pitlove

Are you able or willing to order online? chewy.com has excellent prices. I’d suggest seeing if NutriSource Large Breed Puppy is in your price range on that website

Kayla

I’m glad you think it’s the food! I feel as if that’s the option it’s pointing too. And it’s not that my dog doesn’t like eating the food- it just doesn’t agree with his tummy later!
And with the hill science puppy we were always buying a new 15lb bag for about $40 it seemed like every two weeks but with the eagle pack we were paying $37-40 for 30lb and it even had higher ratings on this website. Are there coupons I don’t know about on the hill science website ? I hate to switch him back to that but I also had to buy a new dog food brand and it not agree with him either.

Pitlove

Hi Kayla- Yes, in my opinion it sounds like something in the food is not agreeing with him. He most likely will need to have his food switched. How much per lb are you able to pay for food? I consider Science Diet fairly inexpensive, so thats why I ask.

Kayla

So recently have changed my lab/pitbull mix puppy’s (9 months) diet from Hill Science Dry puppy to Eagle Pack Dry Puppy for Large and Giant Breed. I know the transition from one food to another is supposed to be gradual, however, we are now on the 2nd or 3rd bag of Eagle Pack and he has either not adjusted or does not agree with the food. My dog goes to doggy day care most days and enjoys it and also is extremely hungry when he gets home. He eats the Eagle Pack food no problem! Unfortunately about two weeks ago, he started to have really bad diarrhea at crazy hours for a few days (11pm, 2am, and 4am–not fun) and even one morning he had some vomit.
So I took my dog to the vet and she was worried that he had swalled a foreign object and that is was trapped inside his body and causing the diarrhea and vomit. She felt his abdomen was tense and suggest and X-ray. X-ray came back and there was no obvious sign of a foreign object, but the vet still insisted there was something not right and pressured us into a blood test. $400 later, the blood test came back positive and we still could not figure out what was wrong with my dog. His mannerism is very happy and loves to play so I do not believe he has anything in his body.

The vet had us do some antibiotics but really really wanted us to do a Barium Study (another $400). Since it is Christmas time I politely declined the barium study and we have been doing a digestive paste and antibiotics along with a bland diet (rice, boiled egg, cottage cheese and chicken broth). Since this is a diet that is NOT high in fiber, my dog does not poop very often, but when he did poop it was solid!
We are in the process not of trying to transition him slowly back onto the eagle pack and we are mixing his food with the bland diet (which he loves!). However, when we add in the eagle pack (1/2 to 1cup) at a time, he had really runny liquid diarrhea!

Is he possibility allergic to an ingredient in the eagle pack? I notice that Eagle pack contains tomato pomace which Hill Science does not and he did fine on Hill Science it is just way unaffordable for me. I am thinking of changing his food AGAIN but not sure if that really is the underlying issue?

Penny

I’m storing it inside at room temperature. This is not a storage issue, at least once it arrives here. This is a formulation issue. Last purchase I opened the first bag and it was fine, bag 2 & 3 I got soft stools, then the last bag back to the solid stools. Not realizing there was a problem I fed some of bag 2-3 to puppies, mixed with baby rice cereal, and they got bloody diahrrea. I only started with this product in the summer and some time in the fall I started have problems with it. I need to figure out where to find the lot code so I can give the Eagle Pack people (and myself) some fact based information on the problem.

How do you store 4 bags of food? Storage methods can affect the kibble.

Penny

I am having serious problems with consistency from one bag to the next of the Eagle Pack chicken meal & pork meal & rice for small dogs. I feed a dozen or so small dogs, but it’s gotten bad enough that I hold my breath every time I open a new bad of dog food. I buy 2-4 30 pound bags at a time, but recently I will have 1-2 bags that make nice firm stools, and another that give them cake batter poop. It’s making me nuts. I have Boston Terriers and they have a tendency to have sensitive stomachs, but this is so frustrating. “When it’s good it’s very, very good, and when it’s bad it’s horrid.”

CoolSpring Labradors

Ok …here goes…my Labs look amazing on this food…their coats are just plain outstanding on this food Happy Happy Happy! No allergy issues at all Zip Nada Nothing…..Went to Vet with one for check-up…New senior tech she really is a Vet in disguise. So get this, she just moved here from where ALASKA…via a major breed reproductive practice in PA…hey what do you feed your dogs?…I told her and she goes heck that’s great dog food where do you get it. She also noted that its the choice dog food of the Iditirod…no kidding…..I know. She will be getting food from us for her Cats and Dogs! Hooray……this is just superb food BAR NONE. If you want a super dog food this is it.

CoolSpring Labradors

Deb…..funny one of our champion co-breeders has same breed as yours Chewawa’s (kidding on the spelling)….the Large Breed formula are large, the hi protein are sized just fine. I think they use regular food add water to the dry and then partially mash it up for them…I do admit they are really adorable dogs.

Deborah Smith

Thanks. That helps. I have Chihuahuas.

Kristi Peterson Bolinger

I don’t know about the reduced fat, but the original is smaller sized kibble. My 5 pound dog eats it.

as for this hurdle, more or less, thanks – that would explain why the feed and seed carries both lines – when I pick up the pro pac hp, I’ll get their pricing on Earthborn – all vitals are online – solid numbers

and of course the feed and seed carry game bird feed too – trying to pep up the quail for some training duty – since changing from Turkey Starter to Flight Conditioner, they seem more often airborne in their pen – pup points them better than pigeons, but they’re weak fliers

that’s it – right now running out on Fish and Wildlife pheasant-release fields – just running to find and point – not shooting – don’t even own a real gun, just a starter pistol for training, trials, hunt tests – but I keep hearing he needs birds shot over him that he can fetch for reward – problem is that I’m not interested in shooting birds – hope to find hunters to work with – pup finds/points – I flush – they shoot – pup retrieves – everybody happy … hope to have him in shape for that by this time next year – now still running too big and a bit beyond his nose – thanks for all the fine tips here on feeding – very useful forum

Crazy4dogs

Hi are we there yet,

I do feed Earthborn and have had good luck with it. It is made by the same company that makes Pro Pac.

thanks for the suggestions – finally got a shipping quote on KINETIC 30 – my first choice but new on the market – unfortunately with shipping from these guys – http://www.lambertvetsupply.com/Kinetic-Power-30K-Performance-Dog-Food_p_6105.html – bottom line jumps to just under $2/lb. – asked Dog Food Advisor to review it, but hardly matters as all numbers and qualities are comparable with top-shelf brands – they might see something I overlooked

DogFoodie

Also, if you feed a rotational diet, you can sometimes work in a higher price food when you’re only feeding it occasionally. I agree with your thoughts on Earthborn, too. Great products and a reliable manufacturer.

CoolSpring Labradors

If your running the Brittany for birds then 30/20 is best for him…..Eagle Pak is #1 for those in the Iditarod circles…but the corn as a carb is not a no-no…most dog allergies are from the protein source. Dr. Tim’s is hard to get and we purchase direct from the largest distributor in USA….all these foods are excellent choices. I really laugh when I go outside a store not in front of the clerks as most have not a clue…run your dog on what works best for him/her. The coat is one of the best key’s and then normal poops and then how much fat is it producing. If your dog is flying into the back of the truck after 4 hours out in the field, that a good indication that “It must be the Food”….ok u can stop laughing now.

thanks have looked into Victor and NutriSource – first I’ve heard of Tim’s – in following up, still non comes close in price to PRO PAC from the local feed and seed, which also carries another I had not heard of but looks promising – Earth Born Earthborn Holistic® Primitive Natural™ Grain-Free Dog Food

DogFoodie

You might also want to take a look at some of Dr. Tim’s formulas also. Quality ingredients (no corn) and budget friendly. Dr. Tim is readily available to answer questions, too. He’s a veterinarian and competitive sled dogs? It’s manufactured by Ohio Pet Foods.

Victor also makes some very good 30/20 formulas. I use Victor for one of my dogs and she does great on it. Budget friendly, very good quality ingredients and manufactured by Mid-America Pet Foods. It can be a little hard to find and is sold mostly at feed & garden type stores.

NutriSource, made by Tuffy’ s, also has a very good Performance line. Budget friendly, a bit easier to find and generally very well tolerated.

thanks for the info. – finding an affordable 30/20 high performance kibble for my big-running 14-mo-old Brittany has been an odyssey of sorts – found what looks to be a good affordable one: PRO PAC High Performance – a but hard to find – some pet shop clerks poo-poo it because corn is 2nd ingredient – nevertheless, Dog Food Advisor gives PRO PAC High Performance 5 stars and it’s remarkably more affordable than everything else inits class – I’ll give it a try – and not worried about burning out the pup – run him out daily on the biggest fields available – also hard to find + train him on birds several times a week – want to give him the best advantage in field trials – please tell me if you know anything about PRO PAC High Performance that I may have missed

CoolSpring Labradors

Here is an interesting fact…the founders of the Iditarod not only were sponsored buy Eagle Pack their sled covers in blue had Eagle Pack Dog Food on them! Many Iditarod competitors use this exact food! The Labs have all been on it a month now……no problems with the migration to this food…no ALLERGIES to it either. Just as they said……the dogs love this food…to the point that they are nudging me to get it…talking, pawing at me….and yes its always about the food. Their coats have really thickened on this food takes about three weeks…but that is very fast indeed for a transition usually that takes three months. I am now mixing the bags 1 Hi Protien 30/19 and 1 the Large Breed bags basically 1:1 ratio….this is great dog food that is of a very good quality……Eagle pack is now our choice for our show dogs……Eagle Pack is the Food of Champions!

CoolSpring Labradors

Ok we did it….kennel is on Eagle Pack came in yesterday 10 bags 30/19 for in show and the 10 Adult Large Breed……retired group. Food looks of superb high quality dry food and has good oil content.

CoolSpring Labradors

I have been reading this thread and would like to impart some information. First I have been breeding an showing Labradors for over 30 years. I did read the woman from Baltimore’s rant. So let me share some important facts. Dogs are like children each one is different. Many issues that dogs may have with food are protein source related. Dogs that continually scratch, lick their feet, get what I call ear goop are all DOG FOOD protein allergic reactions. Chicken, Pork, Turkey (One of the worst offenders) and so on. Now for the Protein and Fat……all the rage is high protein foods and this in almost all cases for large breed dogs will, do want we call “Burn Them Out”.

Unless your running these dogs in the field or doing field trials…its just way too much protein for their systems especially for normal sixed feedings. It’s just plain over-load on their systems. A food sourced here that contains 24%-20% protein and 16%-10% fat is just great for large dogs especially Labs. To the woman from Baltimore your super Vet in B’more should have CBC’d the dog and stool sample and tested that…because this type of problem is typically Giardia Lamblia…not the food. In my 30 plus years it is 100% the problem and easily fixed. Back to allergies, probably the best food for dogs with Allergies and IBS is none other than Blue Buffalo Limited Ingredient Grain Free Duck and Potato…it is just the best there is for this issue.

Their is nothing wrong with corn in the food as a carbohydrate, oaks, or any other binder such as rice…did you have a hamburger or steak recently? Something to think about. Its about the quantity of it. Everyone here fears that food can cause Cancer….well ingredients as well as environmental factors are a concern but atypical…..in almost every case unless you live in toxic area…Cancer in Dogs is basically 99.9% hereditary it’s not the food.

Moving on…..you need to find a food that your dog does well on, and one that he/she should be on based upon the breed. I always tell people the same thing……either go to a dog local show or go online and email the show breeders they will be glad to tell you what they feed their dogs. At a show you see the results and can speak to the owners/handlers or by phone/internet.

High protein does not have any correlation to quality. Menadione sodium bisulfite complex is in every bag of Purina and few others…this is banned in Europe for Human and Animal consumption allowed for Animals in USA, but banned for Humans? Everything they make and their private brands have it. Nuff said to the topic. I have Co=Breeder that is one of the top judges in the AKC think Westminster…she said no matter how they package it its still the same Mhit. That food has blown up all our Labs every time. Eukanuba…has been perfect zero problems…Eagle Pack is superb dog food. So here is the deal, some food is Premium and some is affordable and inexpensive. You buy what works and what is healthiest for your breed of dog. If you have a mutt their is no difference, you fee them what works just for the sake that you love them. Hopefully this will help every person that reads this post as this is my 30 years of experience helping others. These proteins at 42%, 38% etc. are just ridiculous. These dogs are all bouncing off the walls and their kidneys are taking a beating. All the best to all of you. This site is absolutely a paradise for pet owners.

L McClure

My little lab is doing great on Eagle Pack Large Breed Puppy! I’ve had the little guy for 3 weeks now. The breeder started him on Science Diet, but there was horrible gas. Transitioned him to Nutro because that’s what I could get at the time in my small Alaska town. No gas, but “soft-serve” stools. I had already put my adult GSD on Eagle Pack, and jumped at the chance for the puppy when I could get it. Within 2 days of the transition, he started delivering normal stools. I’m resisting the temptation to totally delete the Nutro. I’m able to order this through the local feed store. Both of us are very happy. He’s thriving and growing like crazy!

Summer Smith

It seems like your problem was with the store owner. The store I bought my Eagle pack from said to bring it back if it didn’t work for us. And why would you be willing to use or take a chance on Eagle today for your Welsh Corgi’s if you thought there was a problem with the food? I thought they just got rid of the corn, but there wasn’t a change in the fat and you have no proven evidence of a contaminant from the product itself. Why didn’t you send a sample to the company? You can’t claim it was toxic without knowing. And people do scam for $40 believe it or not.

myOWNcompass

Thank you for answering the question Mike. I have another question that I’m hoping you can help me with, sugar content, I realize that that oats, rice, and barley have a lower amount of carbs and therefore sugar than other grains, but is there anyway for you to ascertain the grams of sugar per cup of kibble? I’m trying to choose a dry food for my daughter’s dog. He is an INCREDIBLY hyper dog. I’m getting rid of this pedigree crap she has given to me and trying to choose the best food I can for him.

Crazy4cats

Just finishing up a bag of the chicken and pork meal. The boys did fine on it. I think it is a great base kibble to use with the See Spot Live Longer recommended fresh food additives. Also made by a reputable company. I got a great deal on it thru one of Pet Flow’s specials. Only about $1 per pound!

Crazy4cats

I know it is really hard to start feeding something new if you find a kibble that finally works well for your dog. I’m in that situation myself. But…I realize it is important to try and find at least one other kibble to rotate with in case something like this happens again. Preferably a different brand with a different protein and carb. There are many benefits to rotating a bit. I also find it beneficial to mix in toppers in with my dogs’ kibble meals. Such as canned or fresh foods. I’m happy to hear your pup is doing well. Good luck, Linda!

Linda

Thank you everyone. I think there is a newsletter on Eagle pack website, so maybe I should get that for advance warning if they abruptly change or discontinue it. The premium dog food seller in my town told me it is not a big seller here in town, so I will have to watch that I don’t run out and he can get it for me in time. Dog is still doing great and I am feeding 3/4 new and 1/4 old at this point, only a day or 2 away from completely new. thanks !!

Susan

Hi Linda, Wellpet also makes Wellness & Holistic Select & Eagle Pack, so if your dog all of a sudden starts scratching again you can try one of Wellpets other brands, their Holistic Select Anchovy,Sardine & Salmon meal or their Grainfree Anchovy,Sardines & Salmon meal is very good for dogs with Skin problems, its a top seller here in Australia for dogs with skin problems..

Bob K

Eagle original pork and chicken has been around for years, the older formula has corn as you mention but it was a few ingredients down the list. Very affordable and one of the few dog foods with pork in it. Made in northern Indiana. They have some large breeder bags that are a real bargain if you can find them at your specialty pet shop. When did they take our the corn? Great move on their part. I fed this to dogs a few years ago with great success.

Linda

Thank you ! There is a write-up on Editors Choice about it and it looks good – the company I mean !

Crazy4cats

Hi Linda-
Glad to hear your pup is doing so well on this new food. Fingers crossed that it will stick around for a while!

Linda

Very happy to find Eagle Pack Original chicken and pork meal – it is new and does not have corn. After trying to transition to a good food – usually my dog got sick, even with a slow transition, or started itching all over. Also, I don’t like some of the new premium foods that have really outlandish ingredients – just seem trendy and like a fad.
One time, I successfully transitioned to new food, only to go to the store and it was discontinued ! I have been feeding this new Eagle Pack Original mixed with his current food, and he is not throwing up ! and no itching. So Eureka. yay ! I am happy and relieved. Now I just have to hope that this food won’t suddenly disappear and be discontinued with no advance warning !

Bryan Ledford

I just spoke to a representative and was impressed to find the Power Adult contains only 6.73% ash. I’ll be tying this in my rotation.

Dori

Very well said Melissa. I’m pretty sure most of us feel the same way as you do.

Melissaandcrew

Lol. I didn’t find anything scary about it. He clearly tells you that you can find the info yourself if you so choose to. I choose to pay the few bucks have them do the work, and give that info to me, in one place, at my convenience. I used to make calls myself (and somtimes still do) however my lost time in doing so, costs more than joining. To each their own.

Harrison Herbert

I dont believe this. When I clicked Editor’s Top Picks, I got nothing but massive advertising talks. Scare tactics used to get my money. Sigh

Crazy4cats

Thanks, Sue. That is what I was afraid of. I’m just not crazy about this new pea craze!

sue66b

Ur right its peas, I just went to their site & looked at the Reduced fat formula & there adding peas, they’re just uping the protein % at least corn doesnt make them fart like peas does.

Crazy4cats

Ok, good. Thank you.

Hound Dog Mom

I used it for Gus a longgg time ago and he did well on it, even with the corn.

Hound Dog Mom

I doubt it. I don’t think they’re making it grain free, it just says wheat and corn free. So my guess is going to be rice.

Crazy4cats

Hi HDM-
Do you know what they are going to replace the corn with? Peas?

Betsy Greer

That’s great news HDM! That’s the one and only reason I haven’t tried it for Sam yet.

Hound Dog Mom

WellPet is in the process of reformulating Eagle Pack. The new formulas will all be corn-free. At 30% protein/20% fat their power formula is pretty meat-heavy.

Rochelle @ Newmac

I, personally, wouldn’t give 4 stars to any food that contains corn, especially so high on the ingredient list. I understand it is mostly to do with the protein content, but corn is a deal breaker for me. I also don’t see the need for both brown and white rice. I strongly prefer meat-based kibble, though, so that’s just my opinion.

A recipe containing 27% protein cannot be considered a “low protein” dry dog food. And the overwhelming majority of kibbles are plant based. Compared to hundreds of others in our database, this product qualifies as a 4-star dog food.

Bunnie Hadsall

How does such a low-protein, plant-based food get four stars? I have read through the review and can’t figure out why it gets four and not three stars. Can someone enlighten me?

theBCnut

They are made by Wellpet and Wellpet’s customer service number is 800-225-0904. You could try calling instead.

Bryan Ledford

Does anyone have a clue what the ash content of this kibble is? I was thinking of feeding the Power formula to my active senior. I’ve tried to email them but have been getting a error over and over from their site.

Pattyvaughn

Thanks Ed! My kids are great! And I totally agree with you about customer service. It is very important to me that I feel that I can trust a company. Lousy customer service is a deal breaker for me.

Crazy4cats

Don’t feel bad about not feeding premium raw food. I’m sure you take great care of your dog. With 2 big dogs, 4 kitties and 2 human boys with college expense, I don’t feed that either! Thanks for the kind response and I certainly hope you get over that awful disease soon. HNY to you too!

dblhelixman

Thank you for your kind comment. I am indeed a lucky man if this were the worst experience a person has. I felt almost embarrassed about posting because I did not want it to seem like the 40 bucks or whatever it was (its been a few years) was the issue – it was the utter disregard that the food had made my dog very ill. We are talking arched back, trembling, projectile vomiting and diarrhea, no traceable pathogenic cause, the change in the fat in the food being the only thing we could find. Once the food was removed the illness abated. Had we not fed this before of course we would have mixed it in with her other food gradually because this is what we always do. I wish I could afford one of the premium raw food products but I have a chronic debilitating illness at this point (don’t let anyone tell you Lyme disease gets all better after a few weeks of antibiotics). When not caught in time it wipes out your immune system, sets you up for all kinds of bizarre infections and many infectious diseases think its hypochondria even when they see your post Lyme immune system labs with virtually no CD57 lymphocytes, almost non-existent IgG, IgH and IgM subclass III antibodies. Luckily my doc is super supportive and knows it is a real chronic illness in a small percentage of people who get it. Sorry to digress but before I got really sick I did do the premium raw food thing when it became available but I can no longer afford it. Anyhow sorry for the digression and thanks for the response. HNY to you, your family and kitties! Regards, Ed S.

dblhelixman

Neezerfan, Gee thanks. Take care and HNY! Best Regards, Ed S.

dblhelixman

Thank you again for the thoughtful response and the note about the rice/arsenic resource. I am glad you decided to raise your children because to me for a parent (sex matters not) to be able to raise children is a great contribution to our society and given your obvious concern for your pets I can only imagine that you are a very thoughtful parent. My reaction to the Eagle thing was based more on just the seeming concern over a few bucks by the manufacturer and its retailer than how it negatively effected my beloved pet. The money was not the issue – it was the lack of concern. I was actually trying to be helpful by notifying that a formula change had made my dog very sick so they may have wanted to check the batch for pathogens, toxic chemicals, etc. It also stemmed from our customer service practices in my business. If a customer was in any way dissatisfied with an entrée or other food item my staff was authorized and required to offer the customer another choice and the price of the item with which the customer was dissatisfied was removed from the bill. So, it mystified me when I reported the issue to the retailer then to Eagle in a really, really nice manner that the response was so extraordinarily rude and challenging. My cousin’s animal hospital is one of the largest most respect facilities for small animal care in the state of Maryland and she has always been one of the most dedicated, academically competent and clinically competent vets I know as well as always being on top ten lists published by local magazines, etc. If you are a Marylander you may have worked there! I get the point that this is a comparative rating and not an absolute one now (at first I have to say I really didn’t consider that). Anyway, thanks again for being willing to participate in a discussion in an intelligent, adult and civil manner. Best wishes for a happy and healthy new year to you and your family.
Ed S.

neezerfan

Ed S. Please stick aound. We’d love to have you be a regular contributor here!

Crazy4cats

I’m really sorry for your awful experience. It probably is hard to come on here and see the food being recommended. What I try to keep in mind when reading reviews is that when rating the dry dog food, it is being compared to other dry food, not all types of dog food. So, this food is just being recommended over other lower rated dry foods. It is noted in a few of his articles that kibble is the least preferred form of feeding dogs. Canned, dehydrated, raw and cooked meals are more desirable. I agree that most people that come on here love their pets and only want the best they can afford. But, from time to time there are a few real stinkers! Lol!

Pattyvaughn

I’m not defending Eagle, I’m defending Dr Mike’s review.

I do have a science background. I was a CVT before quitting to raise my kids. But most of what I’ve learned about nutrition, I have learned on my own because of a lifelong love of all animals. And I agree with the points you made. I was trying to point out that even with those issues this food is better than 60% of the dog foods out there. That’s what the star rating is all about, having a way to compare quality of food to other foods. When I look at 3 star foods, I find it truly frightening that some people would feed that to their dog long term and even more frightening that some people are perfectly happy with even worse.

FWIW, Dr Mike has a thread on arsenic in rice, if you are interested.

dblhelixman

Your points are taken. And if is perfectly fine for you to defend
Eagle if you have had positive experiences with their products and even if you have not. There are things I have bought and used with which I am highly satisfied that have come under fire from other consumers. You seem like a knowledgeable consumer and I bet
you research before you buy, as do I and although I can’t say for sure
I’d imagine someone who visits this form is also. More importantly, people who visit this forum seem to care about animals (at least to me). I just wanted to share my experience in dealing with Eagle directly and its
representative, the retailer (who I deliberately do not mention by name
because I am not spiteful; were it for legal reasons I certainly would not have mentioned Eagle. As far as my comments about the questionable ingredients, that was mirroring what the reviewer said and I think that I even asked how could this food be “highly recommended” and
have these 4 issues that the reviewer felt strongly enough about to essentially bullet point them. I don’t doubt what you say,but if you
know, and I am sincere, how much is a small amount of As (arsenic)? And
have you done a lot of reading of basic science research regarding
fluoride, its effects in the body, its origins in the manufacturer of a
pig wormer (doesn’t de-wormer make more sense?), and a lot of evidence demonstrating that tooth enamel is not more effectively prevented by lifetime consumption of fluoride and it has some serious side effects when consumed over a lifetime. I am not bating you but wonder if you are a veteranarian or have a science background or education (you seem like
you might). I really would like to know the acceptable lifetime dose of
some of these things (I used to know from brief exposure to toxicology)in one of many many science course I took when studying cell/molecular biology. My particular area of study is Lyme disease and Morgellons and some of these issues come up in that research particularly the fluoride and corn (GMO) issue. One point on which I will strongly disagree with you is the GMO issue. We are talking about organisms that are coded to produce different proteins, carbohydrates, fats, with different nutrient value. If you are a scientist, M.D. or D,V,M, or other type of scientist I apologize for telling you something you may already know. Too little information is available re the stereochemistry of molecules produced by these GMO foods, what the long term physiological and anatomical effects are, what are the electrical properties, how do they react with other physiological processes in the body, etc. There are some preliminary studies suggesting GMO foods are implicated in genetic degradation, altered anatomical features, alter functionality of organ systems, and increased sensitivity to environmental factors. Sadly, most people do not know how the body of a living creature operates on a molecular level and what the change in position of one axial hydrogen can render a nutritious product non nutritious. This is why termites can metabolize cellulose and we cannot. It is because of a slightly different shape of the cellulose polysaccharide compared to glucose based polysaccharides. So, if you know other info regarding the bone meal, the rice
issue, etc., I’d be very open to finding out how much of those things
have to eaten over a lifetime for them to have any side effects other
than nutrition. If you don’t no biggie because I have access to veterinary and medical journals, as well as basic science research (which is by nor means basic – it is just a description of study involving the basic sciences like molecular genetics, biochemistry, physics, etc. as opposed to clinically based study or study that involves human beings as subjects) coming out of of academic institutions that are not N.I.H. mouthpieces due to their reliance on N.I.H. as a significant funding source. Thanks for taking the time respond in a polite and thoughtful manner and thank
you more for caring about animals.

Best Regards,

Ed S.

InkedMarie

I fed the old Eagle Pack holistic select when it was the same company (the HS moved to WellPet, didn’t they?) and had a lot of luck with it.

Pattyvaughn

I don’t want to be thought of as defending Eagle, I’m not, but as far as the ingredient quality, or lack there of, it is a very solid 4 star food, because the 3 stars and lower are really that much worse. Yes, there are many 4 star foods that are much better, this food may be near the bottom of the range for all we know. I have to imagine that more than 99% of all grain inclusive foods are GMO, because it would be a huge advertising bonus to be able to say you were GMO free. The arsenic in rice is negligible, far less than what your dog’s body is able to eliminate easily. All bonemeal has flouride. And beet pulp in small amounts is actually beneficial to gut bacteria. Controversial doesn’t automatically mean bad, it means there is a controversy. Personally, I wouldn’t feed this food, but I wouldn’t have fed it before they changed it, and it is still heaps better than the stuff in 3 star foods, which unfortunately are average for dog food.

dblhelixman

What about Lufenuron to break the hard outer casing of chitin that some advanced fungal infections exhibit that is impervious to anti-fungals? Or is this just a myth and an unsound practice? Your thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you, Ed S.

dblhelixman

You jogged my memory! I too had to take my girl to the all night emergency clinic in Annapolis, Maryland early on when we were feeding Eagle and I never put it together. We kept her ears meticulously clean after the infections started which did not seem to help. Now that I remember for the last half of her life she did not get ear infections anymore and she was also not fed Eagle. She was a meticulously clean creature with pleasant breath, ears that actually had the faint aroma of rosewater and her fur smelled like warm wood. I did the ear sniff test to make sure she did not have a staph, pseudomonas or other bacterial infection as well as examining the canal and eardrum for visible signs of inflammation. When she’d come to me in the middle of the night crying in pain it broke my heart and I’d get her to the vet immediately and all I had to say to her was “Daddy’s taking you to the doctor” and she’d do that slow G.S. swish of the tail and go to the door. It was as if she understood she was going to get help immediately. She gave me 15 glorious years of joy and even after being gone 6 years I still well up when coming across her favorite toy, or looking at her picture. These creatures are indeed a divine gift and have a way of occupying places in the heart I never knew existed. God bless and good luck with your furry kids.

dblhelixman

If you read my lengthy post above you will see ingredient changing is not uncommon with Eagle, and posting notice on the bag prominently is also not uncommon. Furthermore, should you have a problem with the food that arises with an ingredient change without notice their behavior Indicates that losing a long term loyal customer is of less importance to them than the price of a single bag of their product. I can tell you that the cost to them was far greater due to lost referral business in our case. We sent EVERYBODY to that store to buy Eagle and just as quickly we shared our experience with the throngs of dog lovers who patronized our restaurant. A good many stopped patronizing the store and purchasing Eagle kibble. What is curious to me is that they have such a high rating despite the corn (is it GMO), the prominence of rice and associated arsenic, the bonemeal/fluoride toxicity issue, the presence of the controversial beet pulp, the lack of probiotics, etc. This seems like a fairly significant group of questionable judgment calls for a product that is “highly recommended.” I’ll not buy Eagle again and hope you are able to vote with your wallet/pocketbook as well if the corn issue is not addressed. Feed corn for our beloved furry creatures is unacceptable, especially if it is GMO and loaded with pesticides. Best Regards and Happy New Year.

dblhelixman

Regarding Eagle food, years ago we fed our German Shepherd Eagle exclusively this food from a small specialty pet shop in Baltimore, MD. After years of feeding we bought a bag of the same formula. Our dog got VERY ill. Luckily my cousin is one of the finest veteranarians in the area and through process of elimination we determined the root of the illness was the food. There was no mention on the bag that the fat had been changed from either chicken to pork or pork to chicken. We had purchased our usual large bag of Eagle dry. About a half dozen meals had been used out of 40 lbs. When we returned to the store where we had religiously purchased this food we were very nice and simply asked for a refund explaining why. The shop owner was rude, and unyielding. Despite the suffering our dog had experienced, with vomiting & diarrhea, the expenses we incurred having antique Persian carpets cleaned, etc. all we asked was for a credit for another product or a refund. After appealing to the pet store owner unsuccessfully We contacted Eagle. The people at Eagle were equally rude and it was not until I threatened them with the filing of a civil complaint that they begrudgingly offered a refund “but this will be the ONLY time” was the response. Ordinarily we would have donated the item to a shelter but we were afraid that there might be something toxic in the food and we did not want to go through the expensive task of having the food analyzed because we were not looking to have our out of pocket expenses reimbursed let alone filing a frivolous suit for damages. All we wanted was a refund or a credit. In closing, I would feed my dogs Beneful in a pinch before an Eagle product because of the total arrogance of both the store owner where we were LOYAL customers and recommended both the store and food to our high volume 175 seat restaurant and wine bar. Obviously that changed. So, caveat emptor. Had they said “we changed the fat formula” or “we found a contaminant” or “we are so sorry your companion got so ill” and offered a refund or another product we would be using Eagle today for our Cardigan Welsh Corgi boys. It was as if we were trying to scam them out of 40 bucks or whatever the cost of a large bag of food at that time. So think twice before purchasing this product for your beloved friend.

tonia

I agree with you I am also very disappointed they added corn. (And let them know via email) I’ve feed eagle pack for years and my dogs (and cats) have done good one in. Doubt it will help if they are corn sensitive but it’s not #1 in the adult or lamb and rice. I am starting rotational feeding and I’m unsure if eagle pack will stay in my rotation because of the corn.

Hound Dog Mom

Eagle Pack is a great choice for the more budget conscious. I used it a few times years ago and my dog did well on it. It’s made by a great company too.

Vander626

Although I may at times wish to switch to a more expensive and grain-free dog food for my beautiful German Shepherd and Blue Doberman, I am on Social Security and am limited by finances. I have a science background, so really look at the ingredients and have been very picky. When all is said and done, I find this brand of chow to be the best for my family, considering individual preferences, cost and testing information.

Kimberly P

We began using this food quite some time ago due to our dogs sensitive skin issue that appears to come from corn. She did quite well for a long time but then we noticed she started getting itchy again and her skin is very dry. It appears they changed the formula and corn is now the #1 ingredient in the reduced fat blend. This is very disappointing. I hate having to change her food and try new things on her.

Deborah Keays

I have fed all my Springers puppies and Adults Eagle Pack for over 15 years now all Eagle food products Never had a change over problems and they have always had good health.

Alexandra

Hi Susan,

I mentioned the potato, because that is what caused my GSD to have his issues. He had a condition called systemic candida. Potato is feeds this yeast which IF your dog was having yeasty ears, they won’t get better until you starve the yeast back into balance.

Still use the probiotic.

Good luck.

Pattyvaughn

Not all BB is grain free so make sure you get the right one. And dogs that have bacterial infections benefit from being fed multi strain probiotics. Recurrant ear infections are usually yeast, not always, but usually.

InkedMarie

Notice that Alexandra said IF your dog is having yeast ear infections. Since you dog is not, feel free not to follow her advice.

Thanks for the info! However my dogs ear infection is not a yeast infection so I am not sure why you think potato may be an issue. Anyways my vet used to sell Eagle Pack but since the quality has been depleted since the company was sold she no longer reccomends it and suggested several other foods including Blue Buffalo which is ‘grain free’. So I am gonna try this out first, but thanks for the suggestion and I will ask my vet about the yeast and it having to do with ear infections.

Alexandra

Hi Susan,

If your dog is having recurring ear infections that are caused by yeast, I would offer food that does not have white potato in it. Potato is a high glycemic food and as such, it breaks down to sugar which feeds the yeast.

I have had my three labs on Eagle Pack 9 years, but a few years ago when the company was sold the quality has gone down a lot. My vet informed me to switch foods because the quality of Eagle Pack is poor. One of my labs has a recurring ear infection and i think it is because The quality of Eagle Pack is no longer a premium food. I have switched to Blue Buffalo and hope it proves to be a high quality food. Plus I like the ‘grain free’ food since I had my dogs on the ‘raw food’ diet for years until it became too expensive 5 years ago.

Divi

We had our Dogue De Bordeaux on this brand of food, Eagle Pack Large and Giant Breed Puppy, for a few months. He enjoyed the food but it cuase him to have growing pains and IBS. After reading the quality of the food I can see why.

I feed my greyhound Eagle Pack. She has done wonderfully on this food. Originally I tried a more expensive food that was supposed to be highly rated. It gave her terrible diarrhea. She has had perfect stool on Eagle Pack.

I LOVE THIS DOG FOOD ,WE HAVE A RESCUE AND SHE HAD SKIN PROBLEMS ,WHEN WE GOT OUR TWO GREAT DANE PUPPIES LAST JULY THE BREEDER USED EAGLE PACK, ALL FOUR OF MY DOGS LOVE IT ,I TRAVEL 17 MILES ONE WAY TO GET IT ,EVERY TWO WEEKS .THEIR COAT ,BLACK, IS SO SOFT AND SHINY,SOME OF THEIR BROTHERS AND SISTERS ARE ON IT TOO

This reminds me of my conversation with the fabulous Dr. Dan from earlier today regarding Sam’s pano. Dr. Dan said that high protein did not contribute to Sam’s current condition, nor would a continued high protein diet adversely impact his health. In fact, he told me he liked Sam’s current diet and not to change it (other than feed a bit less because we need to control the weight gain a bit more).

This article from the Jennifer Larsen Veterinary Nutrition at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital writes how they have disproven protein as being problematic in large breed puppies (as well as adults). Calcium is an issue but again ONLY during growth.

“The same group went on to investigate the individual dietary components and demonstrated that dietary protein level had no effect on the development of osteochondrosis (Nap, et. al, 1991). For some reason, dietary protein level continues to be incriminated by some owners, breeders, and veterinarians, despite the lack of supportive evidence.” http://www.lgd.org/library/Optimal%20feeding%20of%20large%20breed%20puppies.pdf

There is no reason to feed a low/lower protein diet other than liver and later stage kidney disease. Too little protein causes more harm than good.

Eagle

thanks again Shawna. Its amazing the uses for vinegar. I don’t think it would hurt to try a few digestive supplements and see what happens.

Eagle.

Eagle

thank you Betsy I will take a look.

Eagle.

Eagle

I believe so losul. It is only something recently that has come on. So that is why I started to look more closely at his food. I tried the Fromm Beef Veggie, Fromm Pork and Applesauce and no dice. I tried the Performatrin Grain Free (he does like that but my Vet says that the all life stages is too high in Protein and Calcium) I tried some of these because I thought they were better than the eagle pack.
The current Eagle is 24% Protein and the Performatrin Grain Free is 37%. He seems to like the Turkey, salmon and duck mix though. I wonder if there is a good one out there like that lower in protein more like 24%?
It might be hard to get him off it now he likes it.

He does like the Fromm beef shredded in the can. But now the Pet valu has discontinued that one by my place. He does like that one occasionally though but wouldn’t eat it everyday.

That is why I was looking at the Digestive supplements . Because I am thinking he needs something extra no matter what kibble he is on.

Eagle.

Shawna

Many of us here, including Dr. Mike, advocate a rotational diet. Or, not feeding the same food all the time. Some change their dogs food every day, others give a new food once they use up a bag and others change every 3 months or so.

I rotate with every new bag of food and I buy the smaller 5ish pound bags of food. I change protein and carb type as well as brands. Example — right now I am feeding Earthborn Primitive Natural with turkey, chicken and potatos. When finished I might feed Brothers Complete Red Meat formula with beef, turkey and tapioca. Then switch to Orijen fish with fish and white potato.

So, if any of my dogs are sensitive to potato they get a break from it. Or if any have a chicken intolerance they’re not continuously exposed to chicken. The body is amazing and can do a good job of protecting itself from foods that cause it problems UNLESS that food is fed non stop. Eventually the defenses break down and that is when we see symptoms.

The best time to start a rotational diet is as a puppy but older dogs can be on a rotation diet too. By only feeding one food we have conditioned their guts to be sensitive to other foods but if we transition to the new food slowly it can be done. Eventually the gut should get accustomed to new foods and the transition times can be lessened or even eliminated.

Shawna

You are very welcome Eagle 🙂

I think giving supplements that help with digestion are beneficial for dogs of any age on any diet. Here’s just one example 🙂

Probiotics — good gut bacteria helps prevent bad bugs eaten from doing as much, if any, damage. A certain tribe back in the day would eat horse and camel poop to prevent and cure dysentery. Feces is a source of probiotics. I’m thankful we have supplements now 🙂

Good gut bacteria create vitamins, like the B’s and K, as they feed on the fiber in the foods we eat.

Probiotics even help to create a stronger immune system. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine discovered that probiotics “prime” neutrophil white blood cells. Neutrophils are one of the first on the scene when the body is being invaded. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100127095945.htm

Probiotics, when fed the foods they eat (aka prebiotics), can be a big benefit to older dogs who may be struggling with healthy kidneys. Probiotics help to remove some of the waste products, like blood urea nitrogen, through the colon sparing the kidneys the extra work. This is referred to as “nitrogen trapping”.

The probiotics and enzymes that Betsy recommended are ones that I would recommend too.. Apple cider vinegar can be purchased at any health food store and often at regular grocers too. Braggs is a quality brand that has “the mother”. The mother is just the floating spider web of good bacteria and yeast that caused the apples to become cider vinegar. You can add as little as maybe 6 to 8 drops to the food or you can dilute the vinegar with water (some dogs prefer this) and add maybe a tablespoon. Very inexpensive and a great aide to digesting protein.

I had one more thought for you but this post is long emough so starting another.

losul

Eagle, just for your info, just got an EM from Amazon. a number of different Eagle Pack foods went on sale today.

the most dollars off look to be the original Adult formula (small bites) 30lb for 35.99 +4.99 shipping. Others on sale are the original (reg size) the senior formula, large and giant breed, etc. 8 kinds in all.

When I looked yesterday, or the day before, if I’m not mistaken, i think the 30 lber’s went for between $53 and 58 + shipping.from Amazon, but i don’t even know what would be considered good pricing on this food.

Before SOMEONE even begins to falsely accuse me of something, I’m just posting this as a courtesy to Eagle (the poster), NOTHING more. I’m not advocating use of Eagle dogfood, never have used their brand(s), maybe never will, never have ordered any dog food from Amazon, only parrot feed. For all I know the vendor could be unloading stale or soon to be stale product. So take it FWIW, NOTHING more. Sorry about all the disclaimers Mr Eagle.

Wow I cant believe the information I obtain off this site. I love this site. Thank you for your reply. I was looking at some digestive aids to use as supplements. There is so much to know and sometimes it is confusing but I am learning more everyday.

Eagle.

Eagle

Thank you losul and yes he is on the Pork meal one.

Eagle.

losul

I’m just presenting another side of the story Shawna, the best, and most honest way i know how to.

I’m not at all advocating the use of high quantities and/or low qualities of corn products IF using it at all. If a person does decide to go the corn route, Eagle pack could be one of the bestAnd i don’t agree with everything Ms Arndt says either, especially when it comes to LT use of rosemary.

And nobody knows the LT effects of all those other exotic ingredients used in so many “high end” foods

losul

Hey Eagle.

Here Mike is reviewing the large and giant breed formula, and his list of ingredients is correct , according to the Eagle pack website. I suspect you are using the original adult formula, and the ingredient list changes somewhat, from what Mike is reviewing,

This is probably what you are seeing on your bag. pork meal first, instead of the chicken meal first for the large and giant breeds, ground whole corn second, ground brown rice third, ground white rice fourth, and chicken meal 7th.

I wouldn’t see it as too a big deal though, they are just making adjustments according to their analysis to keep in line with their specs for different uses. What I am saying is if JUST for instance (this is only a wild guess), maybe the original adult includes something like 20% pork meal, 12% whole ground corn, 11 % ground brown rice, 10% ground white rice, and chicken meal in 7th place, while the large and giant breed could have 20% chicken meal, 12% ground brown rice, 11% ground white rice 10% whole ground corn, and pork meal in 7th place.

But I would suggest calling the manufacturer for more specifics. You could always use the large and giant breed instead of the original if that somehow suited you better, but it probably wouldn’t be advised from the manufacturer, unless your dog fits that category. The senior formula might be more appropriate for your dog (I think you said he was 11?) Chicken meal first, ground whole corn third, etc. etc.

Shawna

PS — You mention your concern about calcium in the grain/corn free foods. I’m assuming that is because your pup is a large breed dog? If so, large breed adults don’t need to worry about calcium. Higher calcium is only a concern when in the growing stage.

Shawna

Hi Eagle ~~ I’m one of those that think corn should not be in dog foods.

Losul mentions that nutritionist Linda Arndt says corn is a low allergen food. This is true but “true” food allergies are pretty uncommon. A true allergy is an immunoglobulin E (IgE) response. What Linda neglects to say is that corn also causes intolerances (an IgA response by the body). And intolerances are pretty common.

The protein (aka gluten) in corn can also cause major disease in people and pets that are suseptible. It can cause villous atrophy. This is when the tiny hairs, the villi, in the gut are damaged to the point that they can not absorb the nutrients from the food. The first signs of this may be symptoms of malnutrition which may not even be linked back to the diet. Example — a common cause of hypothryoid is too little iodine in the diet or the inability to digest the iodine eaten (like due to villous atrophy).

Corn has an anti nutrient called phytic acid. Phytic acid binds with minerals like calcium, zinc, magnesium etc and prevents them from being absorbed by the body. This can lead to a malnutrition in any one or several of those minerals. A deficiency in magnesium increases the risks, and can even cause, seizures.

In suseptible persons and pets a protein in corn, called a lectin, can also cause inflammation in the digestive tract and lead to diseases like IBD and colitis. It can also cause the gut to “leak” which allows undigested food into the blood stream. Leaky gut is what causes true allergies.

Lectins can also get into the blood stream in small amounts with normal digestion. If the pup is intolerant (which you may not know til it is too late) the lectin can stick to organs. That’s what lectins are designed to do – to stick (they make glue out of corn lectins I’ve read). Once stuck to an organ or gland etc the immune system will attack that gland in order to fight the lectin. This is the birth of an autoimmune disease. Lectins are linked, via science, to autoimmune diseases.

Veterinarian Dr John Symes (aka Dogtor J) has some great data on why to avoid corn (and a few other foods) on his website. He talks about much of what I mentioned above but discusses some of the science behind it (like how corn causes leaky gut). Dogtor J refers to corn as one of the “big 4” foods to avoid. http://dogtorj.com/what-is-food-intolerance/what-is-the-leaky-gut/

One final thought — they have discovered, some time ago, that senior dogs actually need increased protein BECAUSE they don’t digest as well. An inexpensive and easy way to help dogs digest the higher protein foods is to add a little apple cider vinegar (with the mother) to the meal. The acv mimics the hydrochloric acid in the stomach. Some older dogs and people do not make as much hydrochloric acid as they did when younger. HCL is needed as it causes the enzyme pepsin, in the stomach, to activate. Pepsin breaks down protein. Adding enzymes to the diet is very helpful as well. A complete product can be purchases that helps break down fats, proteins and carbs.

IMO, yes it’s much better. At least it is whole, the manufacturer is not trying to hide the quantity of it with split ingredients, such as corn, corn meal, corn gluten meal, etc. which could way up the corn percentage, and/or not using just the low value parts of it.

So if you or your dog doesn’t have problems/concerns with corn, then this would definitely be one of the better one’s to use that DOES have corn as an ingredient. My main concern with corn is using too much of it over long periods of time, and possible aflatoxins. I think the use of whole corn would mitigate much of that risk.

Here is some of what Linda Arndt, a former insider at Eagle Foods, nutritionist- the Great Dane Lady has to say about corn and Eagle foods

“In the instance of Eagle Dog Foods use of whole corn, Eagle grinds whole corn fresh human grade #1 corn for their products and they do not use any genetically engineered corn. It is bought from local farmers and no pesticides are applied from the day the seed is planted until the corn is picked. High quality whole corn is an excellent carbohydrate that is “used” as a carbohydrate source, not counted as protein source and it is not listed first on the ingredient panel. The fact is, legitimate research shows whole corn, to be considered very low on the list of foods that cause allergic reactions.”

I guess I just became concerned about the corn as everyone seems to think its a low grade ingredient. Some of the Grain and corn free are high in Protein and calcium. Even though I would like to see him on one of those dry foods I wonder if those are too hard for him to digest as a senior?

Thank you
Eagle

Eagle

Losul

You seem very knowledgable. The ground Whole Corn is that better than some other of the corns?
I use the Original Eagle Adult blue bag. Is the corn really something I should be concerned about?
Thank you
Eagle

Sharon

I have used Eagle Pack Dry (Chicken) for years. My dogs have done very well on this product. Recommend by Pet Supplies Plus, Indianapolis, IN. Their coats are shinny, they are healthy, I highly recommend this Dog food to any one out there looking for a good dog food.

losul

I think Mike is very consistent, fair, trustworthy, and totally unbiased in his ratings. He’s about as good as it gets, based on the available information.

Probably if not for the corn which is ground WHOLE corn BTW, or too much rice, it could be a 5 star product, and even though the product is more plant based, most of the protein is good quality animal protein.The wheat germ meal is not a cheap filler. It happens to be the best part of the wheat, highly nutritious, healthy balance of omega 6’s and 3’s, and high in Vit E.Which foods that Mike rated 3’s are those that you think are perfectly healthy and deserve more?

Please click on the attached screen capture of the Eagle Pack Large and Giant Breed Adult product – an image just taken today from the official Eagle Pack website.

Please note I’m using the “Large and Giant Breed” formula for my example.

Either you’re feeding your pet from a different product, an out-of-date package or a newer recipe that the company has yet top update on their website.

In any case, since we revisit each product at least once every 18 months, this product is not scheduled to be researched and updated sometime in March of 2013.

Hope this helps.

Veronica Tomlinson

My question as well. It really makes no sense. You can have a food that has no corn and has premium ingredients and it will get a three star rating, but then you can have a food that has corn wheat beet pulp etc. and it will get four stars? It really just makes me wonder about the validity of this website.

Veronica Tomlinson

I am really beginning question your reviews. You’ll give a perfectly healthy food with great ingredients three stars, but you give this one four stars even though it has several questionable ingredients? Your reviews are very inconsistent and really have no rhyme or reason. They leave me very puzzled. I will have to find another source for my reviews.

Pattyvaughn

I don’t remember the exact time frame, but they are given a certain amount of time to use up old labels before they have to have the new accurate label on the food.

Larry P

Dog food labels are supposed to be accurate. The FDA just doesnt enforce it.

Pattyvaughn

Unfortunately dog food companies do this all the time without warning. They can completely change ingredients and actually have a period of time before the changes even have to appear on the label.

Eagle

Interesting about the Corn as #4. My bag I currently have reads as #2. Your review reads as Sept. 2011. So sometime this year they changed the order and who knows what else. Although I use reg. Adult which has Pork Meal as #1 I suspect the corn was lower down as well. I’m starting to wonder about this company. At one time I thought it was one of the better ones but its changing.

Elizabeth L. let your cat eat what he wants. After all he does not understand healthy he is only a pet. Let him be happy, for all you know something might be going on inside of him. Keep him as long as you can just keeping him happy.

Elizabeth Ledford

Our pets have been on Wellness Core most of their lives. We give them regular Vet visits and the dogs get good exercise. They’ve always been healthy and enjoyed their food. Five years ago we adopted an alley cat (I know this is a site for dog food but this seems my best option). Recently he quit eating. Just stopped all at once. We took him to the vet and everything checked out okay. The vet said he might have become bored with the food so we mixed it up. We’ve tried Earthborn Primitive Feline, Orijen Cat and EVO canned. He wouldn’t eat. We went back to the vet and nothing was wrong accept he was losing weight that he didn’t need to lose. Our vet isn’t a Science Diet pusher and all of the foods we had tried had been foods they agreed would be great choices. Finally I ended up with free samples of Eagle Pack. I put a pouch in his bowl and he ate it like I had intentionally starved him for the past month. I hate feeding this food because I’ve always avoided corn. All he wants is the junk stuff and hes making his little self sick by starving. It’s so bizarre to me. Should we feel guilt over letting him have this food? The other options seemed pretty poor. I’ve even been making home prepped meals. He won’t eat anything that isn’t cooked. He doesn’t like very much that is cooked. Sometimes he will eat a bit of my breakfast steak or a bit of chicken breast. He won’t touch fish. Last week we found him on the counter eating a plain baked potato…skin only. And on Sunday he pulled a plain piece of corn on the cob down and ate half of it just like a human would eat it. He is stressing me out. Advice of any kind would be great.

Dimes105

find another brand to pick on i LOVE this food for my dogs

Dimes105

i have two great dane puppies 4 months old ,mom was on it so i stayed with it they are so shiny black people think i put oil on them, i also have a mix breed that had skin problems vet didn’t know what was wrong,started her on it and she is not scratching anymore ,i love this food for them

…lean body wasting in adult canines can be associated with the consumption of low protein diets consisting of predominantly corn gluten, which is likely due to imbalances or subclinical deficiencies of specific essential amino acids, and that low protein diets may augment accumulation of adipose tissue.

It would be unfair to say corn gluten meal isn’t a nutritious ingredient in a dog food. However, compared to meat, it would be reasonable to call it nutritionally inferior.

Hope this helps.

Hound Dog Mom

I would consider corn a low quality ingredient. It does have a high digestibility (when processed properly) but it has a low biological value for dogs, can often be contaminated with aflatoxin, is high glycemic, and corn is often genetically modified. Dogs don’t need any grains, including corn, so it’s kind of a cheap filler. Obviously companies (like Purina) that sell corn based foods are going to talk up corn to make their foods look better. With that said, back when I fed grain inclusive kibble I did use Eagle Pack on a few occasions (the lamb and rice variety I believe) and had no issues with it. I know my mom uses it occasionally in her rotation for her dog and he does fine with it. Eagle Pack isn’t a horrible food, but there are definitely better options out there and it’s always best to go grain free if possible (in my opinion). When deciphering labels it’s important to ask yourself “What would a dog eat if people weren’t around?” – the answer will not be grains.

This food confuses me as well. A neighbor feeds it to her GS Dog and mentioned the corn in it concerns her. I told her she might want to go with Healthwise if she wanted a better budget food. Then I checked here and saw that it is actually rated a 4 and was kinda surprised. Many of the formulas contain corn gluten meal. I had always assumed this was a very poor ingredient. After a bit of study at different pet food company sites I’ve discovered it is “HIGHLY DIGESTIBLE”? Purina (on the Pro Plan page) claims it sports a digestibility rate higher than fresh chicken! I’m confused about corn gluten in a bad way. Is it a bad ingredient?! I know wheat gluten is undesirable and veggie proteins have a lower biological value but purina seems to be saying the opposite. I’m sure Nestle isn’t the most trustworthy company but Royal Canin and Nutro have pages similar to the one from Purina. Are they all full of junk?

LA

have you ever thought of doing raw the RR do great on it – I know quite a few show handler/breeders in RR and they all do Raw. Take a look at the 5 star raw Primal, Stella, Darwins. I don’t like that Eagle contains corn but I know several bulldog breeders that use Eagle and the only problem they have is tear stains.

Raymond

Have been feeding 2 very active Rhodesian Ridgebacks Eagle Pack with good results for 2 months. Getting a 9 wk old RR puppy and wondering if this same food will be good for them. Had been feeding Canidae All Life Stages to the adult RRs since 5 wks old. Did great till recall. Anyone have any thoughts?

I have an 8 month old Black Lab puppy and Eagle Pack was recommended to me by our breeder. I am extremely happy with the Eagle Pack Large Breed Puppy formula that we have been using. His coat is VERY shiny and he loves the taste of it. I get comments all the time at the dog park about his build and coat appearance. I would highly recommend this for your puppies.

Bob K

HJ – Fairly similar is not the same, A dog food processing plant can
make several different formulas on the same mfg. process line with
different ingredients, formulas, proportions, etc…… That is why
this website exists to help understand the label and what you are really
getting. Every brand and formula does not need a separate dedicated
plant or processing line to produce a different food. READ the LABEL
closely, there is a difference. Then understand the % protein, % fat
and % carbohydrates. Chicken by-product meal is very different than
Chicken meal or Pork Meal. If your dog food store is telling you that
the two foods are the same just different bags, they are full of it and
misinformed.

More examples: An Ice cream maker can make all sorts different formulas
and brands on the same ice cream line they do not need a new plant or
processing line. Your local small town bakery makes rye, white, wheat
and whole grain bread all in the same pans, in the same oven and with a
few similar ingredients but they are very different breads, they might
use similar bags to wrap them in or very different bags, they might be
sold sliced or unsliced in large and small loaves.

HJ

Bob-Yes I am aware of the 2 star (Prism) and 4 star (Eagle Pack). If you read both reviews they are fairly similar. Are the raters aware both products are made by Eagle Pack? Does Eagle Pack really have a separate processing plant to make a very similar product or are they the same thing in different packages? One being marked at consumers in Petsmart and one for consumers who buy animal feeds in feed stores? Look at the ingredients. Hmmmmmm

Bob K

HJ – Prism is rated 2 stars and eagle pack is 4 stars on this website, you can read the details for yourself. I am not sure what you read but you might want to look again. They may be made by the same company with different formulas using similar ingredients.

HJ

I have been told by a feed store manager that Prism Dog Food is the same product as Eagle Pack but is marketed to feed stores and therefore cheaper to buy. The ingredient lists appear to be very similar and in most cases exactly the same. Prism is manufactered by Eagle Pack….are they the same product in different bags?

Joe

I have a German Wirehaired Pointer/Wiem mix who has only been on Eagle Pack Power and Adult (Blue Bag) for all of his 12.5 years. This dog is in excellent health and is still hunting this season. I would recommend and continue to feed Eagle Pack.

Michelle

Angie, I don’t know how else to explain it to you. NO manufacturer would add actual BLACK MOLD to their pet food. It would kill pets and they would be sued. So you should stop running all over the internet posting your “warnings” because they are unfounded. And you really don’t understand the process. Luckily their are people that do understand, or we wouldn’t have Penicillin, which is derived from BREAD MOLD. And when you get a dose of Penicillin, YOU ARE NOT RECEIVING ANY ACTUAL MOLD. Just as the Aspergillus niger in pet food does not contain mold. Get a grip, you are scaring people, for no reason. FYI you are more likely to find mold in dog foods that contain cheap cereal grains, that are not stored properly. Another good reason to go grain free…. 🙂

Bob K

Angie – If the food concerns you – then by all means don’t buy it and vote with your wallet to another product. There are many 4 and 5 star kibbles reviewed on this website.

How was your cat diagnosed for chicken and beef allergies? Most people guess but do not really properly diagnose allergies in pets, they guess, try supplements, switch foods, and try all sorts of things to relieve the symptoms without eliminating the allergen source.

Psst. Don’t believe everything you read on the internet unless you really understand what you are looking for and how to evaluate the information google or any website provides. Most medicines when misused are dangerous.

I suspect when you Google “Chocolate” the results never says its dangerous for dogs on the first few pages of search results unless you specifically google, “Chocolate for dogs”. Very different results.

Angie

If you google “Aspergillus niger” it comes up and says – black mold. They may extract whatever from it but it being on the label made me leery enough to not buy this brand. I understand that we all take in mold every day. From an outside pollen source to indoor food molds. I recently bought a house that was accused of having a mold problem. While a small amount of unharmful mold was present, it was not black mold. Therefore from doing research on mold for home buying purposes, I won’t trust a dog food that feels it necessary to put it on their label. We may all ingest it day in and day out but would we willingly ingest it if we had written in front of us in black and white? I wouldn’t, therefore I wouldnt knowingly feed it to my furry family.

While most people do not read labels on dog food and just buy whatever they can afford,I am OCD about it. I also have a cat that’s allergic to chicken and beef! So I did an extensive amount of research on pet food and what to look for in ingredients. I just thought I would put it out there what the meaning of the word the ingredients label has written out is. When you goggle it it says black mold… If it truly isn’t black mold but some enzyme from it, maybe they should change it to Aspergillus niger enzymes. Even then I wouldn’t feel comfortable feeding it to my pet.

Michelle

Angie, Aspergillus niger is a microbe. No manufacturer would purposely add actual black mold to their food. Here’s how the process works- Most enzymes currently available are blends of enzymes derived from papaya, pineapple, kiwi, figs, or the microbes Aspergillus orzyae or Aspergillus niger. There is no mold or fungus in the finished products. The enzymes are extracted and rigorously purified from the parent organism. The process of getting enzymes from microbes is outlined as follows.

The fungal organisms are grown in trays or large tanks on a bed of something to culture the organisms. This may be “miso,” which is comprised of a mixture of cereal grains, or something else. The fungal organisms secrete enzymes into the mixture to break down the material, or digest it, as a way to get its nutrition. After some time, the cultured mixture is collected. Then, the fungal organisms and base culture are separated from the enzymes. There may be up to 12 different purification steps involving a variety of methods: alcohol precipitation of the enzyme proteins, centrifugation, gel filtration, and molecular sieving. The end results is a very pure mixtures of enzymes without any of the parent source material. Enzymes go through rigorous quality control testing on each lot of enzymes.

While many digestive enzymes are derived from a fungal or bacteria organism, the final enzyme product does not contain fungus, mold, or bacteria in the final product. An analogy is penicillin. Just as penicillin is derived from bread mold, you are not getting a dose of mold when you get penicillin.

Since enzymes are proteins, it is possible that a particular individual may be sensitive (not tolerate) a particular enzyme proteins. This is very very rare though. Enzymes are a natural and constant part of our healthy digestive tract. Our intestinal tract is swimming in enzymes all the time from birth to death anyway. 🙂

Julie

To Angie: The aspergillus in pet food is there to provide enzymes. It is not a harmful ingredient and not black mold.

Angie

Secondly, when comparing the dog foods I found – Diamond Naturals Large Breed Adult 60+Lbs Dry Dog Food – to have the exact same ingredients plus some in the vitamins / supplements area and does not include black mold. My mastiff seems to be enjoying it and is no longer inhaling her food but making it last longer and there is no longer a fowl smell in her stool (thank the heavens! Even outside she could make someone run!). I love my dog like my child and want only the best, I’m just trying to help fellow mastiff / giant breed owners do the same.

Angie

Read the ingredient label on the regular Eagle Pack Dog food on the Large and Giant Breed Formaula. You will notice that the very last ingredient is Aspergillus niger, translation – black mold. I just did an extensive amount of research for a good healthy dog food for my English mastiff and also have done an extensive amount of research on mold… I recognized this right away and also double checked my concern by looking up the scientific name again. Honestly, how bad is your black mold problem if you are having to include it on your ingredients label?! Understandably, we all consume or breathe mold each day, but there is a HUGE difference between the mold from outside spores or what grows on your food to what manifests into black mold. I won’t feed it to my dog, so I’m trying to spread the word about it to other dog owners. Although stated that most ingredients that far down on the label don’t matter much, I feel better knowing I’m not feeding my dog any ounce of black mold.

Hi Shannon… Are you sure you’re looking at the Eagle Pack Large and Giant Breed Adult I used as my example for the product line? I just checked the company’s website and found the ingredients to be identical.

Shannon

Mike-I was looking at your review and on the Eagle Pack webiste and notice that the ingredients are different now…and that ground yellow corn is listed as the second/third ingredient in all of their formulas. Would this change the rating? As a consumer who tries to avoid foods with corn in them, I am surprised to see this still rated so high when the ingredient is so high on the list.

Laurie-Oh man that is allot of food lol. I couldn’t imagine having to buy some that often. Some day maybe! 🙂

ed

Eagle is good food, gotta luv that pork!!!!

laurie

by the way – they each eat 8 cups a day and i go through a bag of dog food about every 7-8 days.

laurie

i have fed eagle pack large breed puppy and adult dry food to my two english mastiff’s their entire lives. they enjoy it and have not had any health issues. hula is almost four and elvis is almost three. nice coats, white, clean teeth, energetic and not overweight. i highly recommend it for english mastiff’s.

pam

I used Eagle Pack Holistic for my standard poodle and he did not do very well because of the beet pulp. It is especially harmful to poodles. I have little respect for this company that would put questionable ingredients in their foods under the illusion it is quality.

Hi Jayce… Unfortunately, I cannot provide customized product comparisons. Please see our reviews and our FAQ page for help. And be sure to check back later to see if you get a reply from another reader.

Jayce

Hi Mike,

Im considering between eagle pro and oven baked tradition for my dog. Which is better?

Ted

I moved and Eagle pack was not available to me. I use a couple of different brand I used Blue Buffalo, ProPlan and Iams. Two I could get for free. I moved again and I started back on Eagle Pack. In my opinion it is the best food for the money. Good coat, energy and stool.

Mae

I have been feeding my dog with Eagle Pack fish formula. Every since the company has been sold to Berwind Corp, it has been renamed Eagle Pro in Singapore. Have been purchasing the Eagle Pro Holistic Salmon but realised that thei recent pack I purchased 2 months ago contains maggots. I returned the pack, and the petshop owner confirmed that it was manufactured recently in March 2010.

Went to another petshop today wanting to give Eagle Pro another chance but just confirmed with the owner that his supplies of Eagle Pro salmon formula too, contained worms.

Hi Fabian… Like many other pet food companies, Eagle Pack may go under a different name in your country (and possibly a different formula, too). Since there are so many labeling standards used in different countries, we do not currently review or rate products sold outside North America. Sorry I can’t be more help.

Fabian

Hi Mike,

I’m from Singapore and I’m writing in as a concerned dog owner (7 actually) that Eagle Pack has been renamed as Eagle Pro. Currently I’m using the Original Adult Formula when it was Eagle Pack and now as Eagle Pro. Is there any changes in the ingredients that I should take note of?
Thanks!!

Hi Howard… Corn germ meal is a meal product made from ground corn germ after much of the oil has been removed. Corn germ meal is a protein-rich by-product left over after milling corn meal, hominy grits and other corn products.

Corn meal (on the other hand) is a coarsely ground flour made from whole dried kernel. Hope this helps.

Howard

Dear Mike,

I would like to know is Corn Germ Meal (Dry Milled) consider a quality ingredient? whats the difference between this and Ground Yellow Corn?

What I am guessing is that the word “meal” in the Corn Germ Meal (Dry Milled) actually refers to the after product of corn processing, Is it correct?

If you know of something different that you’re looking for, please let me know… and provide the name as precisely as you can. I’ll be sure to check it out for you. Hope this is what you were looking for.